No-Fail Sugar Cookie Recipe From a Cookie Expert

As promised, CafeMom's hookin' you up with a no-fail sugar cookie recipe. Yesterday, we posted about starting your own cake business and talked to bailey4302 who did just that with CakesIBake.com. Today, she shares her recipe for these elegant dress cookies. And it's a lot simpler than you would think!

This recipe is great when using complex cookie cutters. The dough holds its shape and won't spread during baking. Make sure you let your oven preheat for at least 30 minutes before baking these or any other cookies.

Sift together:

2 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

In a separate bowl:

Put 3/4 cup soft butter in a large bowl of electric mixer

Add:

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat with mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in flour mixture, blending after each addition. After last addition beat until smooth. Chill 1 hour or until firm. Roll out dough and cut out dresses. Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

For decoration:

Use any kind of fondant (I prefer satin ice). Roll out fondant. Roll an impression rolling pin (swirls, in this case) over fondant. Put the dress cookie cutter on fondant and cut out dresses. Place cut-out of fondant on cookies using corn syrup to help stick. Makes 4 dozen 3 inch cookies.